The Traces of Change

How can you tell how a house changed over time?

Tiny structural details tell part of the story, if you know what to look for. Nail holes, paint and paint shadows, bits of wallpaper, and tool marks on boards are among the many clues in this house. They reveal how various owners and residents have added and removed walls, windows, and staircases over the years and adapted spaces to suit their own needs and tastes.

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Demolition, 1963

This photograph, taken when the house was dismantled, hints at one way it changed over time. The angled ends of the floor joists near the bottom of the photo signal that the lean-to addition was probably only one story high originally.

Demolition, 1963

This photograph, taken when the house was dismantled, hints at one way it changed over time. The angled ends of the floor joists near the bottom of the photo signal that the lean-to addition was probably only one story high originally.